Inside the restaurant
Kane stared at the golden screen as lines of messages popped up one after another.
As expected of sisters...
Even their way of doing things is this similar?
Sure enough...
The ones who hate you most are often the ones who know you best.
…
In the chat group...
The "fairy tale" Morgan told was steeped in darkness.
It was enough to make your back go cold.
In her story...
This terrifying frost calamity was a curse brought down upon the land by a vengeful witch named Aesc.
She was the king chosen by the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad, and in the midst of that horrifying cataclysm, she founded the one and only sanctuary.
Only those fortunate souls chosen by the Holy Spear could pass through the deadly ring of frost and reach this Holy City.
She even reshaped herself into a "great Holy King."
Whenever the dreadful frost calamity began to creep toward the city...
She would stand forth, letting the Holy Spear radiate dazzling light, driving back the frost that gnawed at the earth, time and time again.
As the years went by...
The residents of the Holy City praised this Holy King day and night.
Those kind-hearted faeries who were chosen by the Holy Spear and made it to the city went even further, revering her as a goddess and becoming her most faithful believers.
How laughable...
She'd spent thousands of years as a savior, resolving one world-ending disaster after another, only to be spat on by the faeries in the end.
Driven out...
Slandered...
Hunted...
Like a stray dog with no home...
Pitifully searching this sinful land for a place to belong, for someone who would acknowledge her.
After her fall into darkness, her hands were drenched in blood, and she tortured the living beings on that land, committing countless crimes.
Yet that was what became the "Holy King."
The one celebrated in the faeries' songs and hymns.
The place she lived in was no longer a damp, icy cave, but a lavishly extravagant palace.
The recognition she had once longed for so desperately now came flooding in like piles of dead fish and rotten shrimp washed ashore—so excessive it made her sick of it.
For over a hundred years, there had never been a single rebellion, not even the slightest voice of doubt.
Supported by the adoration of her subjects, Morgan had become an absolute ruler.
Prestige, authority, wealth—she now lacked nothing at all.
And yet...
Only Kane knew...
That there was no such thing as a "great Holy King"—there was only the vengeful witch: Aesc.
The so-called Holy Spear was nothing more than a weapon Morgan had casually cobbled together.
Whether the frost calamity encroached upon the inland or not depended entirely on Morgan's mood.
It was merely her method of pacifying her subjects and punishing those she exiled.
Fake.
Every last bit of it was fake.
Everything was Morgan's lie.
But so what?
At the very least, Morgan had realized her wish.
Kane had obtained the treasure he wanted, and also won Morgan's favor.
That kind of perfect, win-win result was exactly what he liked to see.
As for those faerie livestock that had suffered so long—who would care about them?
…
After a good while...
Once Morgan finished telling her story...
[Group Owner: Not bad. Keep it up.]
[Faerie Queen: Mm, I'll do my best!]
[Faerie Queen: I want to meet you offline. Is that possible?]
[Group Owner: And what exactly are you planning?]
[Faerie Queen: You've contributed to building Britain as well.]
[Faerie Queen: So I want to hold a wedding with you.]
[Faerie Queen: Would you be willing to be my husband—or my wife?]
[Group Owner: What's that supposed to mean?]
[Group Owner: You don't even know my gender, do you.]
[Faerie Queen: I'm not joking. This is my decision after careful consideration.]
[Faerie Queen: Only with your assistance can Britain become better.]
[Faerie Queen: Rather than a cold contract, I'd rather build a real relationship with you.]
[Faerie Queen: I've said it before—everything I have, I'm willing to share with you!]
[Faerie Queen: You're my first love, and you'll be the only partner in my life!]
[Group Owner: I need some alone time...]
[Faerie Queen: Alone Time? Who is that?]
[Faerie Queen: What is that person to you? Husband? Wife?]
[Faerie Queen: I don't mind that sort of thing. Please believe me.]
[Group Owner: ...]
[Prompt: Faerie Queen has been muted for one hour!]
…
In the restaurant...
Faced with Morgan's confession, Kane just sat there, stunned.
Clang—!
Even the spoon in his hand slipped and fell into the plate, ringing out with a pleasant, crisp note.
"What's wrong, dear?"
"Is the food not to your taste?"
Noticing her lover's abnormal reaction, Irisviel frowned in worry.
She brought her hands up to her chest, speaking in a soft, gentle voice.
"No."
"I'm just so hungry I'm about to lose strength."
"How much longer until they bring out the main course?"
Coming back to his senses, Kane picked up the spoon again and grumbled about how slow the service was.
…
To be fair...
Morgan really was willing to go all in to get what she wanted.
She was willing to throw herself in as the bargaining chip if that's what it took to bind their interests together.
…
"Pft..."
Hearing her lover's complaint, Irisviel couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
The dishes at this star-rated restaurant tasted excellent, but the portions were very small.
And the meal lasted a full four hours.
The food was served in stages, accompanied by expensive wine.
It would go on all the way until late at night.
Because of that...
Irisviel had long since instructed the maids to reserve the best presidential suite.
She knew that her life had very little time left; she could no longer afford to wait.
On this trip, she had steeled herself.
She had to place the final puzzle piece into their relationship.
To completely cement their intimacy and become the one indelible mark on his heart.
"If I'd known, I would've wolfed down a bowl of egg fried rice first."
Kane muttered under his breath.
He might have lived in Western Europe for over ten years, but his tastes had never changed.
He still preferred stir-fried dishes with steaming hot rice, sitting around the table with family.
Of course...
In this world...
As far as people qualified to be called his "family," there were currently only two.
One was Old Man Jewel...
But that guy stopped counting as human long ago. As a True Ancestor, he didn't need to eat, or even sleep.
The other was Irisviel...
But she was, at her core, an artificial lifeform. As long as she had enough energy, she didn't need to eat either.
Even so...
To take care of Kane's feelings, they still accompanied him at meals.
Yet the atmosphere at the table always felt like something was missing.
So...
To fill that gap...
Kane swore he would make his quiet home lively.
Thinking of this, Kane raised his head and looked at the woman sitting across from him.
"Iri... do you like children?"
Kane asked with a serious expression.
"Eh—?"
"C-children...?"
The moment she heard his question, Irisviel's pretty face turned scarlet.
Her imagination went into overdrive in an instant, her lovely flushed cheeks almost steaming.
Even though she had long since prepared herself for this, talking about it still left her at a complete loss.
"I'm not joking."
Kane spoke again, his tone far more solemn.
"I... I like them..."
Irisviel's voice was very soft; she only felt her head growing a little dizzy.
She had been waiting for this day for so long, yet happiness had arrived so suddenly.
"Good..."
"In that case, let's adopt one."
Once he understood Irisviel's feelings, Kane finally made up his mind and spoke.
"A-adopt...?"
Irisviel's voice was thick with disappointment, even carrying a hint of grievance.
She might be an artificial lifeform, but she did have the ability to bear children, after all.
Sensing her mood, Kane belatedly let out a helpless little laugh.
"Where did your thoughts run off to?"
"I heard that over in Fuyuki City, the Tohsaka family is raising a pair of genius sisters."
"I want to pick one to bring back, raise her as a younger sister and disciple."
Kane could only shake his head with a wry smile as he finally laid out the truth.
"Sigh... When are we leaving?"
"The Einzbern family is your strongest backing, after all."
Irisviel lowered her gaze, letting out a complicated sigh.
But since it was her lover's wish, she would support it no matter what.
"In a week..."
After thinking for a moment, Kane set a departure date.
Before they left, he had to master at least entry-level Second Magic.
In the negotiations to come, that would be an ace up his sleeve.
…
(End of Chapter)
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